PARENTS LIVING IN the troubled constituency of South St. Andrew said they would be taking a wait-and-see attitude toward sending their children to school today.
Several schools in the community including the Jones Town Primary, Charlie Smith and Trench Town high schools, were forced shut on Wednesday when ongoing factional violence in the area escalated.
At meetings held at the Jones Town Primary School and Unity Park on Friday, Member of Parliament Dr. Omar Davies demanded that come today, all schools be reopened and children be allowed to travel to and from schools safely.
However, while residents agree with the request, they say they are not sure if the warring factions will be so co-operative. "Ah di gunman dem stop di kids from going to school, so is dem fi allow dem fi can go back," said a female resident of Trench Town.
Another resident told THE STAR that while she was preparing her four children to return to school today, she would make the final decision at the last moment.
Depend on the vibes
"Mi hear seh dem a guh get police guard and ting, but di police nah go be round dem di whole day, suh mi nuh know. It all depending on the vibes whe mi pick up tomorrow morning," she said.
However, one parent was adamant that she would be keeping her son out of school today. "Me will watch and see how tings go Monday before me send him," she said. "Any number can play, anyting liable fi happen."
Meanwhile, a resident told THE STAR that he would be walking his teenaged niece to school and walking her back home to ensure her safety. "Mi nuh too trust dem trigger happy bwoy yah, and mi nuh too trust di police and har faada would a dead if nutten happen to har so me we go wid har as long as nuh shot nah fire," he said.
Violence in the community came to a head on Good Friday when factions trying to force area leader George Phang and his brother Andrew out of the community shot and killed Anthony 'Chuncie' Folkes, a friend of the Phangs.
Since then gunmen allegedly loyal to the Phangs, and gunmen opposed to their leadership have been trading bullets forcing life in the area to come to a standstill.
